Crome Yellow · Character

Gombauld

A black-haired Provençal painter of thirty, all flashing teeth and easy confidence, whose portrait of Anne turns slowly diabolic as his desire sours.

supporting

Also known as R. Gombauld, XXIII Gombauld

First appearance: i

As a supporting figure in Crome Yellow, Gombauld is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Vivacious and confident, leans over Anne's chair, laughing and gesturing; Denis envies his looks and vitality.

In the storyIIIOpen this moment free

See Gombauld in III Book page

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Gombauld works furiously on a portrait of Anne that is terribly like her and, he decides, the most malicious of lies — a doll's mask with the inward lights extinguished. His restless, unsatisfied desire converts itself into feverish energy, and Denis watches him with envy of both his talent and his looks. As Anne's other suitor, he turns the novel's romantic triangle into a study of how art and appetite can curdle into cruelty.

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The fuller portrait of Gombauld sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Gombauld in i

Character Web

15 connections

A slice of how Gombauld sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Romantic
Rivalry
Social
Other

Character groups

Crome House Party Core
Protagonist
Eccentric Guests and Locals

+10 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point

Denis’s decision to send the telegram ordering himself back to town marks the story’s dramatic climax because…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Anne
romantic · positive
Anne shares a flirtatious and potentially romantic connection with the painter Gombauld,… How this plays out →
Denis
rivalry · negative
Mr. Scogan
social · ambivalent
Anne
romantic · positive
Anne shares a flirtatious and potentially romantic connection with the painter Gombauld,… How this plays out →
Mr. Scogan
social · ambivalent
Anne
romantic · positive
Anne shares a flirtatious and potentially romantic connection with the painter Gombauld,… How this plays out →
Mr. Scogan
social · ambivalent
Denis
rivalry · negative
Denis
rivalry · negative

Anne
Anne shares a flirtatious and potentially romantic connection with the painter Gombauld, creating tension with Denis.
Denis
Denis and Gombauld are rivals for Anne's affection, with underlying artistic jealousy.
Mr. Scogan
Gombauld and Mr. Scogan exchange sharp, intellectual opinions as fellow guests.
Anne
Anne shares a flirtatious and potentially romantic connection with the painter Gombauld, creating tension with Denis.
Mr. Scogan
Gombauld and Mr. Scogan exchange sharp, intellectual opinions as fellow guests.
Anne
Anne shares a flirtatious and potentially romantic connection with the painter Gombauld, creating tension with Denis.
Mr. Scogan
Gombauld and Mr. Scogan exchange sharp, intellectual opinions as fellow guests.
Denis
Denis and Gombauld are rivals for Anne's affection, with underlying artistic jealousy.
Denis
Denis and Gombauld are rivals for Anne's affection, with underlying artistic jealousy.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Gombauld in i

In the story

Gombauld appears across 15 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

III
V
VII
X
XII
XIII
XIV
XVI
+7 more

III
Vivacious and confident, leans over Anne's chair, laughing and gesturing; Denis envies his looks and vitality.
V
Passionately argues for life and multiplication, urging everyone to have children and thumping the bull with his stick.
VII
Considered by Mary as a potential partner; described as having more talent but less civilised than Denis.
X
Dances with Anne as a single harmonious creature; described as having a face of brass.
XII
Working intensely on a representational painting of a man fallen from a horse; dismisses Mary's advances and intellectual pretensions.
XIII
Inquires about the amusing or tragic content of the family history.
XIV
Interjects to comment on Knockespotch's occasional obscurity.
XVI
Notices Mr. Scogan's smile and prompts him to share his thoughts.
XXI
Paints Anne's portrait with furious energy, accusing her of playing games and luring him on.
XXII
Accompanies Anne to the studio; Denis suggests visiting him to interrupt their time together.
XXIII
Painting Anne; initially irritated but welcomes the interruption.
XXIV
Appears in Jenny's caricature as a dancing couple with Anne.
XXV
Volunteers as a lightning artist for the Fair and engages in a brief exchange with Mr. Scogan about holidays.
XXVIII
Dances with Anne, part of the harmonious couples.
XXIX
Attempts to kiss Anne by the pool after the fair; rebuffed, he reacts with anger and frustration.

Chapter companion notes

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See Gombauld in i

See Gombauld in III